25 March 2026
The U.S. Army launched the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Marketplace on March 24 — a new digital storefront designed to get trusted, cutting-edge drone technology into the hands of Soldiers faster than ever before. This digital one-stop shop will allow Army units, government partners and allied nations to efficiently procure vetted UAS solutions.
Developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services and the Army Enterprise Cloud Management Agency, the digital storefront features tools that allow users to compare system functionalities, provide direct feedback and place orders with ease.
“The UAS Marketplace is a prime example of how the Army is transforming its acquisition processes to be more agile, competitive and effective,” said the Honorable Brent G. Ingraham, the Army Acquisition Executive. “By lowering barriers to entry and partnering with a wider range of industrial innovators, we are building a more resilient and responsive defense industrial base, which is essential for equipping our force and deterring our adversaries.”
The marketplace is more than a digital storefront. It marks a major shift from traditional, slower acquisition methods and is a key part of the Army's goal to transform its procurement process. By creating a competitive and transparent environment, the platform will foster innovation, broaden the industrial base and provide a wider range of drone capabilities to meet the evolving demands of the modern battlefield.
“The success of this marketplace directly demonstrates the power of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive construct to deliver tailored capability faster and more efficiently," said Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Air. "It represents a pivotal shift in our acquisition mindset and is a cornerstone of Army Aviation's modernization strategy. This new agility allows us to equip our Soldiers with the unmanned technologies they want and need to maintain overmatch on a complex battlefield.”
"The UAS Marketplace is a direct response to the evolving needs of our Soldiers on the ground,” said Mr. Rodney Davis, the Capabilities Program Executive for Aviation. “By creating a dynamic and competitive environment, we are not just buying drones; we are delivering versatile and advanced aerial capabilities that will give our formations a decisive edge in multi-domain operations.”
Project leaders emphasized that the marketplace is purpose-built to deliver capability faster than ever before, directly supporting Army modernization efforts and the strategic goal of achieving drone dominance.
"The UAS Marketplace is a transformative approach to acquisition," said Col. Danielle Medaglia, the Army’s Project Manager for UAS. "By fostering competition and innovation, we are ensuring that Soldiers have access to the most advanced technologies to meet their mission requirements. This strategy is about delivering capability at scale and at speed."
The Army is also leveraging the UAS Marketplace to accelerate the delivery of innovative UAS solutions to Allies and foreign partners. As it matures, this free-market approach to UAS procurement will strengthen international partnerships and streamline Foreign Military Sales processes by delivering mission-specific unmanned systems at the speed of relevance.
Ukraine Developed a Drone Shop Last Year
Not surprisingly, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced the Ukrainian military to innovate drone combat strategies, rapid UAV development and production, and fast-tracking delivery of drones to soldiers in the field.
One of those innovations is the Brave1 Marketplace, which debuted less than a year ago. Brave1 is an online shop for warriors that gives them the opportunity to order the latest drone kits directly from Ukrainian manufacturers.
"It's like Amazon for the military," said a Ukrainian soldier. "We're never seen this before in the whole world."
Developed by Ukraine's state-funded defense innovation program, Brave1 is meant to keep up with the speed and scale of the war—critical, given that Ukraine produces approximately four million drones each year, more than any one NATO country.
CREDITS FOR STRIKES
The Ukrainian "order process" is tied to battlefield success. Army teams earn points by destroying targets. Strike footage is evaluated and vertified by Brave1, and points are awarded—a process called the “Army of Drones Bonus System.” The points are converted to money, which the soldiers use to purchase drones at the online marketplace, where currently more than 600 manufacturers are offering 2,600 products.
Much like your favorite video game, soldiers can earn more or less points depending on the strike. The values are guided by military strategy and often change month by month.
“Changing the amount of points for different targets can concentrate military units to special tasks, different directions, and different areas," said another Ukrainian soldier. “For example, if we want to concentrate on enemy personnel, the points for personnel increase. If we want to destroy more tanks, the amount of points for tanks will be increased.”
Somewhat strangely, Brave1 spotlights the top ten teams that earn the most points each month.
"We don’t care about the scores," explained a soldier. "We are doing our job to defend our land."
However, there is a strategy to the point system.
“This system helps us to create some communication between the General Staff and the average soldiers on the frontline,” says Brave1 Product Manager Yuliia Myrna. “The cost for every enemy target depends on the general strategy of our General Staff.”
